Hong Kong protests: Stand-off between demonstrators and police continues on Monday as early morning clashes break out at Polytechnic University
Protesters also pledged to block public transport services in an attempt to divert police manpower
An anti-government protester watches as a fire rages at the entrance to Polytechnic University. An intense stand-off between police and protesters continued at Polytechnic University on Monday morning, with demonstrators vowing to stage more traffic disruptions elsewhere in the city.
Tensions flared when riot police pushed forward at the Poly U campus in Hung Hom at around 5.30am.
A wrap up of events from the weekend at Polytechnic University
Protesters were seen setting fire to the school’s main entrance on Cheong Wan Road and throwing petrol bombs from above officers, who fired multiple rounds of tear gas and rubber bullets from the rooftop of the adjacent Hong Kong Museum of History.
A man was seen being removed from the university campus by a first aider on a stretcher.
At about 7am, protesters occupying the podium at the university’s main entrance stopped firefighters from putting out the blaze, while throwing objects into it to keep it burning.
Government inaction criticised across the political spectrum
Shortly before 2am, a group of pan-democratic lawmakers, and auxiliary bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, offered to enter PolyU and take away those who were willing to leave, but were turned down by police.
Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu said police had later shone bright lights at them and warned they were also taking part in a riot.
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Meanwhile, protesters pledged to continue their strategy of bringing the city to a partial standstill on Monday morning by blocking major thoroughfares and disrupting public transport services in a bid to divert police manpower.
Some also responded to calls to head to Hung Hom to rescue their peers in PolyU.
Train services between Hung Hom and Mong Kok East stations on the East Rail line have been suspended by the city’s railway operator.